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Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

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1

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2019-05-21

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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken
to support the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of (a) carers and (b) carers
who face financial uncertainty as a result of the suspension of their carer’s allowance.

<p>The Government recognises and appreciates the contribution made by unpaid carers
who provide invaluable support. We are committed to continuing to support carers to
provide care as they would wish, and to do so in a way that supports their own health
and wellbeing, employment and other life chances.</p><p>The cross-Government Carers
Action Plan was published on 5 June 2018, through which we set out a series of commitments
to support all carers, regardless of whether they receive carers allowance, in the
short term. We want to make sure that carers receive the support that they are entitled
to and so the Department is working with the Association of Directors of Adult Social
Services on a sector-led improvement programme of work, focused on the implementation
of the duties relating to carers in the Care Act (2014). We expect that by summer
2020 a series of resources and learning to support commissioners to do this will be
published.</p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions does not suspend Carer’s Allowance
claims lightly and will only do so where there is reasonable doubt about ongoing entitlement
to benefit.</p>

<p>We are deeply concerned by the report of attacks on health workers in Gaza. The
UK is clear that no health workers or aid workers should be at risk of violence, and
that they must have the protection they need from the responsible authorities to allow
them to do their jobs in safety. While we recognise Israel’s right to security, we
have repeatedly made clear to Israel our longstanding concerns about the way Israel
Defence Forces (IDF) police protests and the border areas in Gaza, including our concerns
about the use of live ammunition and excessive force by the IDF. We regularly raise
with the Government of Israel the urgent need to ease all access and movement restrictions
on Gaza, including for health workers.</p><p> </p><p>The UK continues to strongly
support the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. In 2019, the UK is supporting
urgent medical needs through the International Committee for the Red Cross and the
World Health Organisation. We are also providing support to the UN Access Coordination
Unit, which works to facilitate humanitarian access for UN and NGO workers into Gaza.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the Government
is taking to ensure that those responsible for attacks on humanitarian workers in
developing countries are held to account.

<p>The primary responsibility for prosecuting those who attack humanitarian workers
in any context lies with the state authorities. In a conflict context, where the state
authorities are unable or unwilling to do this, international accountability mechanisms
may be invoked, as appropriate. The UK supports international mechanisms such as the
International Criminal Court or <em>ad hoc</em> tribunals acting within their mandates
when grave violations of international humanitarian law are suspected, and the state
is genuinely unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute.</p>

<p>The UK is clear that no health workers or aid workers should be at risk of violence,
that they must have the protection they need from the responsible authorities to allow
them to do their jobs in safety, and that the rule of law must prevail to deal with
perpetrators.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment
he has made of the extent to which Israel’s internal investigations into the killings
of Palestinian health workers comply with international standards of (a) independence,
(b) impartiality, (c) promptness, (d) thoroughness and (e) transparency.

<p>We have not made an assessment of this matter. However we have stressed to Israel
the need for independent and transparent investigations of deaths. We are deeply concerned
by the significant deaths and injuries of civilians in Gaza over the last year. We
urge the Israeli Government to publish the findings of the investigations launched
by the Military Attorney General on 13 March. The UK remains concerned about the use
of live ammunition and excessive force by the Israel Defense Forces. While Israel
has the right to self-defence, it is vital that its actions are proportionate and
seek to avoid civilian casualties. Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
remains a human rights country of concern.</p>

<p>Trees are vital environmental, social and economic assets. We need to take action
to protect all trees from pests and diseases to preserve the benefits trees provide,
include those trees that are planted within the Northern Forest.</p><p> </p><p>Our
woodlands and forests are protected by the Forestry Act and Felling Licence regulations.
In most cases a licence is required from the Forestry Commission before a landowner
can undertake tree felling, with the Forestry Commission taking into account the UK
Forestry Standard when considering felling applications. Where clear felling takes
place there is, in most cases, a requirement to restock the woodland to maintain our
woodland resource.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting trees from pests and diseases is essential
in realising our ambition to leave the environment in a better state for the next
generation. The Tree Health Resilience strategy, published in May 2018, sets out how
Government will work with others to reduce the risk of pest and disease threats, and
how we will strengthen the resilience of our trees to withstand these threats. The
strategy includes a National Action Plan that sets out what we are already doing and
what we and others will need to do to protect our trees.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
has invested £5.7m to kick-start the development of the Northern Forest, which will
have planted 1.8 million trees by the end of the Parliament to offer a firm foundation
to continue to deliver against its longer term vision.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
has a manifesto commitment to ensure stronger protection for our ancient woodlands
and the irreplaceable nature of ancient woodlands is recognised in our 25 Year Environment
Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. Planning authorities are required
to consult the Natural England and Forestry Commission ‘standing advice’ on ancient
woodland and veteran trees when determining planning applications that may affect
such habitats.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also providing funding of £5m for the
HS2 Woodland Fund. This supports the restoration of existing plantations on ancient
woodland sites (PAWS) as well as the creation of new native woodland.</p>

<p>Trees are vital environmental, social and economic assets. We need to take action
to protect all trees from pests and diseases to preserve the benefits trees provide,
include those trees that are planted within the Northern Forest.</p><p> </p><p>Our
woodlands and forests are protected by the Forestry Act and Felling Licence regulations.
In most cases a licence is required from the Forestry Commission before a landowner
can undertake tree felling, with the Forestry Commission taking into account the UK
Forestry Standard when considering felling applications. Where clear felling takes
place there is, in most cases, a requirement to restock the woodland to maintain our
woodland resource.</p><p> </p><p>Protecting trees from pests and diseases is essential
in realising our ambition to leave the environment in a better state for the next
generation. The Tree Health Resilience strategy, published in May 2018, sets out how
Government will work with others to reduce the risk of pest and disease threats, and
how we will strengthen the resilience of our trees to withstand these threats. The
strategy includes a National Action Plan that sets out what we are already doing and
what we and others will need to do to protect our trees.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
has invested £5.7m to kick-start the development of the Northern Forest, which will
have planted 1.8 million trees by the end of the Parliament to offer a firm foundation
to continue to deliver against its longer term vision.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
has a manifesto commitment to ensure stronger protection for our ancient woodlands
and the irreplaceable nature of ancient woodlands is recognised in our 25 Year Environment
Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. Planning authorities are required
to consult the Natural England and Forestry Commission ‘standing advice’ on ancient
woodland and veteran trees when determining planning applications that may affect
such habitats.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also providing funding of £5m for the
HS2 Woodland Fund. This supports the restoration of existing plantations on ancient
woodland sites (PAWS) as well as the creation of new native woodland.</p>

<p>Trees, woods and forests are a devolved matter and the information provided relates
to England only. Neither Defra nor the Forestry Commission records tree planting data
except for trees planted in England with central Government support.</p><p> </p><p>The
latest figures from the Forestry Commission’s report on <em>Government supported new
planting of trees in England</em>, published on 13 June, show that from April 2018
to March 2019 at least 2.06 million trees have been planted with central Government
support, equivalent to approximately 1,273 hectares of woodland creation. Between
April 2017 and March 2018, 1.6 million trees were planted with central Government
support, equivalent to approximately 1,045 hectares of woodland creation.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government has planted 16.1 million trees since 2010, and remains on course to plant
11 million trees in this Parliament, 2017-22. Woodland creation is a key activity
of our 25 Year Environment Plan.</p>